What exactly is 'mainstream' about injustice?Vegan Lifestyle Articles From All-Creatures.org

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I know that Seattle cares about justice, and I know
that Seattle vegans see beyond the pallid version of veganism that VegFest
offers. So to ensure that my fellow rad Seattle citizens get a better
experience, we will be bringing lauren Ornelas to Seattle herself, for a
completely free event, that will include a great talk, amazing food, and a
version of justice that meets the needs of our future world.

The crew of the newly established Washington chapter of Food Empowerment
Project...

I’m thrilled to be working on the issues that Food Empowerment Project
addresses here in Washington State—from educating the public on issues with
cocoa farmed in West Africa to supporting the Driscoll’s/Sakuma berry
boycott in solidarity with Familias Unidas por la Justicia. But I have to
share a story that illustrates the barriers that Food Empowerment Project
has faced since its founding in 2006.

As a burgeoning chapter, one of our first tasks is to get the word out
about Food Empowerment Project, helping folks expand their circle of
compassion to human animals and non-human animals, which means tabling at
our local Seattle VegFest. This event is ideal because we would be able to
reach thousands of vegans and vegetarians with information about farm worker
rights, child labor in the chocolate industry, etc., and also help the
hundreds of omnivores who attend embrace veganism and animal liberation
without dismissing human needs. There is no better event for us to table.

Which is why I was crushed when I was told via email that the event was
full and we wouldn’t be able to rent table space. I was also extremely
surprised, since I had contacted them more than a month before the event
and, having attended many times, I knew that there were often empty tables
near the other non-profits. I wrote them back, pleading: “Isn't there
anything that can be done? Anyone cancelling? A wait list? Any spare tables
in the back?” I didn’t want our new chapter to be left out of this community
event and asked them if they could help in finding of any other way we could
be involved. But I never received a response. Crickets, as they say.

Then, thankfully, a friend of Food Empowerment Project found a group that
would be willing to share their table with us, since they were light on
literature and thought having another group sharing the space might draw
more people to the table in general. Problem solved! Hurray! Right?

Alas, when this arrangement was discussed with the organizers, they
admitted to our friend that they didn’t want Food Empowerment Project at
Seattle VegFest because we cover issues that are “out of scope” of the
event. That’s right: a vegan food justice organization is not welcome at
Seattle VegFest because we care about a multitude of related food justice
issues. Mind you, this event lets Safeway and QFC table (last year handing
out flavored bottled water), though these companies openly make millions
from the exploitation of non-human animals. That’s right: corporations are
“in” and Food Empowerment Project is “out.” To say we were frustrated would
be an understatement.

This is a pattern for Vegetarians of Washington, the organizers of
VegFest, who claim that they don’t want anything to detract from the
mainstreaming of veganism. They actually don’t use the word “vegan,” even
though their monthly dinners are vegan and many of the organizers are
ethical vegans. How can we get our friends to embrace veganism for ethical
reasons if even vegans are too worried about using the word? They believe
that they are making veganism more palatable for Seattle citizens. Here is
where I think they are sending the wrong messages to their enthusiastic
audience.

If we continue to pretend that our fellow humans don’t care about one
another and pretend that we should only focus on our own health and never
mind the impact of our choices, we are disrespecting our fellow citizens.
VegFest organizers think that they are making veganism easier and more
mainstream, but they are actually making it harder for those in Seattle who
care about wider justice issues. They are making veganism seem single-issue,
personal-interest, and out-of-touch. In Seattle, food justice, anti-racism,
labor rights, and environmental justice are all issues taken up by
significantly more people than veganism or animal rights. VegFest organizers
are turning their backs on the very people that vegetarian groups should be
reaching out to – they are making veganism less palatable for Seattle.

I know that Seattle cares about justice, and I know that Seattle vegans
see beyond the pallid version of veganism that VegFest offers. So to ensure
that my fellow rad Seattle citizens get a better experience, we will be
bringing lauren Ornelas to Seattle herself, for a completely free event,
that will include a great talk, amazing food, and a version of justice that
meets the needs of our future world. If you’d like to be invited, please
follow the newly created Food Empowerment Project WA Chapter Facebook Page
or email me at [email protected].

Lastly, I am not saying that folks should avoid Seattle VegFest, but if
you want to see them expand their concept of mainstream veganism beyond
consumerism, be sure to give them feedback via email or social media. Then
maybe next year we’ll see you there!

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